A MAN was remanded in custody after he was charged in connection with a collision which claimed the life of a pedestrian in Swords in Dublin at the weekend.

Desmond Collopy (29), from Ballyfermot, Dublin has been accused of dangerous driving and did not apply for bail when he was brought before a judge yesterday morning.

Married Eamon Cronin (50), a customer service agent from Ridgewood, Swords, was struck by a car at about 3.10am on Saturday, August 6. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to removed to Connolly Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene and an appeal was issued for witnesses to come forward.

On Saturday evening Mr Collopy, from Landen Road, Ballyfermot, was arrested by Garda Ciaran McGeough. The 29-year-old was taken to Swords Garda station where he was held under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

On Sunday, he was charged under the Road Traffic Act with dangerous driving at the junction of Malahide Road and Main Street, Swords.

He was brought to appear before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court yesterday where Gda McGeough said the accused "made no reply" when the charge was put to him.

He consented to being remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday when a bail application could be made.

Mr Collopy, dressed in a grey tracksuit, remained silent during his hearing and has not yet indicated how he will plead. Free legal aid was granted.

Mr Cronin and his wife, Jane, had been married for 19 years and he worked at the Permanent TSB branch on Baggot Street.

His wife said he was due to celebrate his birthday on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tributes have been paid to a "highly talented" pilot who was tragically killed in a road crash in Co Limerick.

The single-vehicle incident occurred on the N20 Limerick Cork road at Ballyphillip, Banogue, Co Limerick, around 11.50pm on Sunday night.

Gardaí believe the driver, Denis Metcalfe (25) from Copstown Cross, Mallow, Co Cork, may have suffered a heart attack before crashing his Peugeot car into two ditches.

Mr Metcalfe, who was a first officer pilot with Stobart Air, formerly Aer Arann, managed to get out of the car after it came to a halt but he collapsed to the ground moments later and died.